Meijer remembered as a “great boss” and an “inspirational leader”

Hundreds of people have been lining up this evening to pay their final respects to Frederik Meijer. Meijer operated nearly 200 stores throughout the Midwest. He died Friday after suffering a stroke.

A public visitation service is going on at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park through 10 o’clock tonight.

A line stretched all the way outside the park. People slowly made their way past mostly black and white photographs and some color videos of Fred and his wife Lena; eventually passing by Meijer’s open casket.

Duke Vandenberg worked in Meijer’s buying office for 36 years. He says Fred was a “great boss” who always took time to chat, even on the weekends. “Fred would casually come by to talk 10-15 minutes just about business in general most Saturdays,” Vandenberg said, “He was no different than the rest of us.”

Meijer’s Dutch immigrant father opened his first grocery store when Fred was 14.

Maurice Benoit never worked for or with Meijer. But he says everyone in the region has been or will be affected by Meijer’s philanthropic contributions; particularly to the medical industry in Grand Rapids.

“Although I’ve been blessed not to have to use them just yet I suspect that many of us will use them in the years to come,” Benoit said, “Not only the Meijer Gardens that we’re standing in here today the Meijer stores that we shop in but his legacy is no doubt going to go on for years and years.”

People unable to pay their respects in person can sign an online guest book. A private funeral service is tomorrow at a Grand Rapids church.

Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi says they’re expecting at least 10,000 people to travel to Grand Rapids Tuesday for the public visitation.

“The Meijer family wanted to give the community an opportunity to pay their respects to Fred because he meant so much to so many people, not just in Grand Rapids but really in the state of Michigan,” Guglielmi said.

People have already flooded an online guest book with ‘thanks yous’ to Fred. They’ve shared memories of working with him; even simple stories like getting one of his signed Purple Cow cards (and Sandy the pony - rides still cost just a penny). The cards were good for one free ice cream cone at a Meijer deli. Meijer used to hand the cards out to people he met in his stores.